The International Boxing Association (AIBA) Board of Directors has voted in a fundamental change to the sport by amending the weight classes for youth and elite athletes at all AIBA competitions. Men’s weight categories will increase from 10 to 13, whilst women’s will rise from 10 to 12.
The decision is in force from August 1st, 2021.
The proposal was presented by AIBA Secretary General Mr. István Kovács during his report to the Board. He stressed that AIBA undertook a widespread consultation of stakeholders in men’s and women’s boxing before discussing and agreeing on the new weight classes during the Board meeting.
‘We believe this step will allow a greater pool of boxers to participate in the respective weight categories where they feel most strong and comfortable. We have collected all proposals from National Federations, as well as from respected AIBA Committees. Each voice was heard. This innovation will help boxing to develop from grassroots to elite,’ Mr. Kovács said.
‘We are implementing this crucial change now whilst widespread reform of AIBA’s whole competition structure is in process,’ said AIBA President Mr. Umar Kremlev. ‘I truly believe we must deliver more opportunities to our athletes; the new divisions will encourage more people from various countries to take up boxing, and allow more nations to win medals. The more medals we have, the more governments will pay attention to our sport and fund it around the globe.’
The changes have been made for the safety of boxers by ensuring easier weight management and equal fighting. The minimum weight for men was reduced from 49kg to 48kg. The spread between the first five categories is 3kg, between the 5th and 7th it is 3.5kg, between the 7th and 9th it is 4kg, and between the 9th and 10th is 5 kg, between 10th and 12th it is 6kg. The super heavyweight category starts from 92kg and has no limits.
The minimum weight for women remains the same at 48kg. However, the spread between the first four weight classes is now 2kg. Between the 4th and 8th it is 3kg, between 8th and 9th it is 4 kg, from the 9thto the 10th it is 5kg, and from the 10th to the 11th it is 6kg. The heavyweight weight class remains the same at +81kg.
The scheduled easing of Covid-19 restrictions that were due to take place in the ROI next Monday 05th July, have been postponed by the Irish Government.
As such please be advised, that the current IABA ‘Protect Yourself at All Times Protocols’ for Indoor and Outdoor training remain unchanged.
Please see links to current Protocol documents below:
All clubs wishing to reopen MUST complete the return to boxing process and return the club declaration document to info@iaba.ie.
Once the completed document verifying that the club has taken all relevant steps has been received via email, the club will in turn receive a confirmation email from IABA head office confirming that they can reopen.
*PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST HAVE COMPLETED THE RETURN TO BOXING PROCESS AND BE IN RECEIPT OF YOUR PERMISSION TO REOPEN LETTER FROM THE IABA MEDICAL COMMISSIONER BEFORE REOPENING YOUR CLUB.
Team Ireland has officially selected a team of seven boxers to compete in the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer. Six of the team are set to compete in their first Senior Games, Rio Olympian, Brendan Irvine, was announced earlier this year, with the remainder being confirmed in June. The boxing events take place in the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo from the 24 July – 8 August 2021.
Today Brendan Irvine, who qualified for Tokyo in the European Olympic Qualifiers in London last year, was also announced as team captain of the boxing squad which includes Kellie Harrington, Aoife O’Rourke, Michaela Walsh, Aidan Walsh and Emmet Brennan who secured spots at the European Olympic Qualifier in June, European Games Champion Kurt Walker was also confirmed following the close of rankings.
The team are going into the Games with real possibilities of success, after strong performances in Paris last month. Three of the European Games medallists are part of the team, including gold medal winner Kurt Walker, and silver medallists Kellie Harrington and Michaela Walsh. Walsh is joined on the team by her brother Aidan, as well as Dubliner Emmet Brennan and 2019 European Champion from Roscommon Aoife O’Rourke.
Team Captain Irvine is looking forward to the competition,
Team Ireland Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020, Tricia Heberle said,
“Boxing is Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, with a proud history of medal winning performers. Up until a few weeks ago we had one confirmed spot and so it was great to see the team rise to the occasion in Paris earlier this month to build qualification numbers to seven. We are looking forward to seeing this talented group of Boxers perform in Tokyo as part of Team Ireland.”
Team Ireland Boxing Performance Director, Bernard Dunne said,
“They’re coming off a really tough tournament in Paris, and we have seven now qualified. We are now recovering from that and starting to really push ourselves in training before we head out to our training camp in Miyazaki before we do our final preparations before we move down to the Olympic Village on the 19th July. We are ready, we have a strong team, both male and female. We just need to manage ourselves as best we can once we get out there and get good work against the other world class countries that are coming out to the training camp. Everyone is just looking forward to it. It has been pushed back, and there has been so much doubt over the past year and a half, so it’s great that it’s finally here. And that the guys get to perform on the biggest stage, which is the Olympic Games.”
TEAM IRELAND BOXING TEAM:
Brendan Irvine (Flyweight 52kg male)
Kurt Walker (Featherweight 57kg male)
Aidan Walsh (Welterweight 69kg male)
Emmet Brennan (Light Heavyweight 81kg male)
Michaela Walsh (Featherweight 57kg female)
Kellie Harrington (Lightweight 60kg female)
Aoife O’Rourke (Middleweight 75kg female)
Team Ireland now consists of 57 officially selected athletes, with over 100 athletes spots confirmed across nineteen sports SEE HERE. The final team announcement is scheduled for the beginning of July. The Olympic Games in Tokyo will run from the 23rd July to 8th August 2021.
Additional €1.3million in High Performance Impact Funding Announced
Sport Ireland today published its new High Performance Strategy 2021-2032, a long term plan for the Irish high performance system over the next three Olympic and Paralympic cycles.
A robust and comprehensive period of consultation and research underpinned the development of the Strategy which sets out the ambition and vision for high performance sport in Ireland. The Strategy will be delivered in partnership with the broader high performance community and is based on the philosophy that athletes and the people who support them are at the heart of everything.
Sport Ireland has identified investment in coaching as the key to delivering its new High Performance Strategy and has appointed renowned athletics coach Stephen Maguire to lead a transformation of Irish coaching over the next ten years.
The review of the Rio Games 2016 highlighted the importance of Governance and the direct impact on performance. The Strategy will place an emphasis on the governance of High Performance Programmes over the next period.
Globally the lesson from high performance sport is that culture matters. The welfare of athletes and of everyone involved in High Performance Sport will be central to the strategy and no short cuts will be taken in order to achieve ambitious goals. Sport Ireland has developed the Culture Evolution Programme which will be expertly guided by John Donnelly. This programme will support National Governing Bodies as they seek to protect and maximise the experience of athletes, coaches, and support staff.
Coinciding with the launch of the High Performance Strategy are advancements to the International Carding Scheme. This Scheme, which provides direct funding to athletes, will see a number of positive changes including an increase of award amounts; the introduction of a team funding model; security of funding in 2023 and 2024; and financial and service support for retiring athletes. These welcomed advancements will ensure Ireland provides a world-leading and comprehensive support model to high performance athletes.
High performance sport will be further supported by the announcement of €1.3million in funding in 2021 as part of Round 1 of the High Performance Impact Funding Programme. This fund will support NGBs with immediate and confirmed costs to high performance programmes specifically relating to the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Future rounds of HP Impact Funding for Paris 2024 will be delivered in quarters three and four of 2021. NGBs have applied to Sport Ireland for funding where they have incurred costs relating to Tokyo 2020 (2021) which are beyond the scope of High Performance Programme funding and other performance programme resources.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD welcomed the publication, commenting: “I am delighted to see the publication of this Strategy and the vision and strategic direction for high performance sport in Ireland. The National Sports Policy 2018-2027 tasked Sport Ireland with developing a new long-term strategy for high performance sport and this Strategy clearly sets out challenging but achievable targets. A collaborative approach across the sector will be key to realising these targets and our athletes’ potential. This will be underpinned by significant and sustained investment from Government. High performance sport has the power to inspire us all to lead active lifestyles and over the past year, the successes and performances of our athletes have boosted the nation when we needed it most. I look forward to seeing the impact of this ambitious strategy over the coming years”.
Minister of State for the Gaeltacht & Sport, Jack Chambers TD added: “Ireland is a proud sporting nation steeped in international success, with many of our fondest memories centred on Ireland’s achievements on the global stage. The inspirational effect of our high performance athletes on the Irish public cannot be overstated. This new High Performance Strategy is ambitious and signals our belief that Irish athletes can compete with the best in the world and win medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and other major international competitions, on a consistent basis. We would like to commend all those who provided input to this strategy, in particular the members of the High Performance Working Group, Sport Ireland, Sport Northern Ireland, National Governing Bodies, Olympic Federation of Ireland, Paralympics Ireland and the Athletes’ Commission”
Chairman of Sport Ireland Kieran Mulvey commented: “The launch now is a vote of confidence in our athletes and to reassure them that there is belief in them and their programmes in advance of Tokyo and onwards to Paris. Their diligence, resilience and determination through the challenges of the pandemic have been extraordinary. Ireland’s athletes and those that support them will be central to the delivery of this Strategy. The advancements to the International Carding Scheme and introduction of the Culture Evolution Programme demonstrates our commitment to this philosophy”
Chair of Sport Ireland’s High Performance Committee Liam Sheedy commented: “Ireland can be proud of the achievements of our athletes over the course of the last number of years across a wide variety of sports. Equally we can be proud of the progress made in the high performance system to ensure that the right structures and people are in place for this success to be realised. However, it is imperative that we continue to challenge and improve the system. The Strategy sets out targets and clear actions across seven strategic area which will have a positive impact on our sports and athletes. On behalf of the High Performance Working Group, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the development of this strategy and played a part in shaping the future of high performance sport in Ireland”.
Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy commented: “High performance sport in Ireland has made substantial progress in recent years as evidenced by the consistent podium and top ten finishes achieved by Irish athletes and teams on the international stage. The public response to this success demonstrates a real appetite to see Ireland’s high performance system continue to advance. It is sustained investment over many years that has brought increased level of success across the system. The time is right to provide further investment to move to the next level.
“The National Governing Bodies of sport have carried out considerable work to progress their own programmes and with the partnership agreement in place between Sport Ireland and both the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland, our athletes will be well prepared heading in to Tokyo and subsequent Olympic and Paralympic Games. World class facilities and equipment is one of the strategic pillars of the Strategy. The Sport Ireland Campus is a major statement of the commitment to high performance sport and in will be further developed and expanded in the coming years to really deliver the best possible facilities for existing and emerging athletes. This strategy sets out a blueprint to build on the work already achieved and make sustainable improvement to the system and across our high performance sports. I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this collaborative work in the years to come and the development of future generations of talented athletes”.
